La Marcha Real ("The Royal March") is the national anthem of Spain. It is one of the few national anthems in the world to have no official lyrics. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogising the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognised either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ...

The origins of the anthem, one of the oldest in Europe, are unknown. The melody was first printed in a document dated 1761 and entitled El Libro de Ordenanza de los toques militares de la Infantería Española (The Spanish Infantry's Book of Military Bugle Calls), by Manuel de Espinosa. Here it is entitled La Marcha Granadera ("March of the Grenadiers"), though no composer's name is given. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... 1761 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Military bugle in Bâ™­ A French marine bugler at a ceremony in Kuwait City celebrating the success of Operation Desert Storm in 1991 Bugler redirects here. ... A Grenadier was originally a specialized assault trooper for siege operations, first established as a distinct role in the early 17th century. ...

In 1770, King Carlos III declared the Marcha Granadera to be the official "Honour March", thereby according it a place at public and ceremonial events. Because it was always played at public events attended by the royal family, Spaniards soon came to regard the Marcha Granadera as their national anthem and called it the Marcha Real, or "Royal March". For the village in Queensland, see 1770, Queensland. ... Charles III (January 20, 1716 - December 14, 1788) was king of Spain from 1759 to 1788. ...

Under the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939), El Himno de Riego replaced La Marcha Real as the national anthem of Spain. At the conclusion of the Civil War, however, dictator Francisco Franco restored La Marcha Real as the country's national anthem, under its old title of La Marcha Granadera. Anthem El Himno de Riego Capital Madrid Language(s) Spanish Government Republic President  - 1931–1936 Niceto Alcalá-Zamora  - 1936–1939 Manuel Azaña Legislature Congress of Deputies Historical era Interwar period  - Monarchy abolished April 14, 1931  - Spanish Civil War 1936–1939  - Surrender to Franco April 1, 1939 Currency Spanish peseta... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rafael del Riego El Himno de Riego is a song dating from the Spanish Civil War of 1820-1823 and named in honour of Colonel Rafael del Riego. ... Not to be confused with the Spanish Civil War of 1820-1823. ... “Franco” redirects here. ...

Modern Anthem

The current version was commissioned to Francisco Grau after the approval of the Spanish Constitution of 1978. In October 1997 a Royal Decree was promulgated regulating the official use of the Marcha Real as the national anthem of Spain. The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ...

Lyrics

Though the Marcha Real has no lyrics, lyrics have been written and used for it in the past. One version was used during Alfonso XIII's reign and another during General Franco's dictatorship; however, none of them were ever official. Alfonso XIII (May 17, 1886 – February 28, 1941), King of Spain, posthumous son of Alfonso XII of Spain, was proclaimed King at his birth. ... The Spanish Civil War officially ended on 1 April 1939, the day Francisco Franco announced the end of hostilities. ...

In 2007, the Spanish Olympic committee asked the public to submit lyrics proposals for the Marcha Real, the rationale being that Spanish sportsmen are only able to hum when their anthem is played at sporting events. Politicians, including the PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, steered clear of the issue in order not to alienate some Basques, Catalans, or Galicians who tend to identify with their own regions rather than with the Spanish state.^[1] A number of the Autonomous communities of Spain have their own anthems. See Anthems of the autonomous communities of Spain for details. Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (born August 4, 1960) is the Prime Minister of Spain. ... This article is about the Basque people. ... Capital Barcelona Official languages Spanish and Catalan In Val dAran, also Aranese. ... Motto: Galiza Ceibe Capital Santiago de Compostela Official languages Galician and Castilian Area  – Total  – % of Spain Ranked 7th  29 574 km²  5,8% Population  – Total (2003)  – % of Spain  – Density Ranked 5th  2 737 370  6,5%  92,36/km² Demonym  – English  – Galician  &#8211... Autonomous communities of Spain. ... Several of the 17 autonomous communities of Spain have their own anthems, ranging from the quase-national anthems of the historical nations to songs virtually unknown even in their own region. ...

Alfonso XIII lyrics:

Marcha Real, Eduardo Marquina  (help· info) Image File history File links Himno_de_España_marquina. ...

Franco lyrics:

External links

• National Hymn Government Site (Spanish)
• MIDI File
• MP3 Version from the US Navy Band
• Banda y Musica de la Academia de Artilleria - The complete three-verse version of Marcha Real

References

1. ^ "Lost for Words", The Economist, Vol 384 Number 8539.